Sperm cell bioassays with the sea urchin Arbacia spatuligera on samples from two polluted Chilean coastal sites

A short-term sea urchin sperm cell bioassay was developed using Arbacia spatuligera from Chilean waters. Sperms of this species were exposed to serially diluted effluent and seawater samples from two polluted localities: Lenga Beach (San Vicente Bay) and Rocuant Beach (Bay of Concepción). Both bays receive point-source discharges of municipal wastewaters, and effluents from several chemical, steel and fishmeal facilities. Statistically significant reductions in fertilization were found at both sites. Rocuant 4 and Rocuant 5 showed strong effects on fertilization and Rocuant 3 showed no significant effect on fertilization. Also, Rocuant test waters at sites 1, 2 and 6 showed significant effects on fertilization. No observable effect concentrations (NOEC) from Rocuant waters were estimated as 12.5% (Rocuant 1), 50% (Rocuant 2) and 6.25% (Rocuant 6). The 100% and 50% concentrations of test water from Lenga 1 showed a consistent reduction of fertilization and Lenga 2 test water showed significant effects on fertilization with NOEC 12.5%. The sperm cell bioassay with A. spatuligera was found to be fast, easy to conduct, and a sensitive indicator of both organic waste and chemical pollution. It was concluded that this is a useful procedure for the biomonitoring of marine waters.